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the Stem Cell Page time and ignorance are the enemies |
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Missouri’s “Amendment 2” explained |
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by Donn Rubin
Editor’s Note: Donn Rubin serves as Chairman of Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures.
August 27, 2006
More than 100 patient, medical, faith and civic organizations have joined the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures to support a YES vote on the Stem Cell Initiative that will appear on the November statewide ballot as Amendment 2. In addition, nearly 60,000 individual citizens have joined our cause, making the coalition the largest ever formed to support a ballot initiative in Missouri. Why? Because these organizations and citizens believe that legislative threats to criminalize federally approved stem cell research and cures in Missouri are wrong, unfair and discriminate against the most vulnerable among us. In short, they believe Missourians who are sick or injured should have the same access to lifesaving medical treatments and cures as other Americans.
Unfortunately, some politicians in Jefferson City think they should have a hand in personal medical care over doctors and patients. For several years this band of ideologues has tried to outlaw some forms of stem cell research, threatening to send to jail scientists seeking cures and Missourian patients who would try to benefit from this new frontier in medicine. That is why our coalition is taking the Stem Research and Cures Initiative directly to the voters, so the future of stem cell research and therapies in our state can be decided once and for all.
As our campaign moves forward, we are clear and unequivocal about what our initiative will do. Despite false and misleading assertions by our opponents, the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative will:
Protect early and adult stem cells research, therapies and cures. All forms of federally approved stem cell research will be protected in Missouri. Those who claim adult stem cells research holds more promise than early, or embryonic, stem cells are trying to mislead citizens. Scientists have been conducting research with adult stem cells for more than 50 years. It has provided nine FDA-approved medical therapies, such as bone marrow transplants to treat leukemia. The overwhelming majority of scientists and physicians believe embryonic stem cell research has the potential to deliver cures for some of today’s worst diseases and injuries, such as Parkinson’s, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and spinal cord injuries. Our measure allows scientists to move safely and responsibly forward in the use of laboratory techniques for cloning cells to treat diseases while prohibiting any attempt to initiate a pregnancy to clone a person. There are severe penalties for attempting to create a human version of “Dolly the Sheep.”
Protect women through patient safety regulations. Our measure prohibits profiting from the sale of human eggs used in stem cell research. Women could donate eggs to help treat sick family or friends, but only after giving their voluntary and fully informed consent.
Reject any state funding. Our measure does not seek any state funding for stem cell research. Research grants and private donations will fund stem cell research in Missouri.
Require medical and public oversight. The highest ethical standards, guidelines and regulations will be implemented, including public oversight and annual reports on all stem cell research in the state.
We are proud of our measure and its protections. We are aggressively fighting back against our opponents’ efforts to mislead voters. Their campaign of distortion and deception is shameful, as is their efforts to demonize the many good people and organizations that support the Stem Cell Initiative – a who’s who of non-profit research and medical institutions, charitable patient groups, plus over 2,000 doctors, nurses and healthcare workers from across Missouri. Among them are Missouri State Medical Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Christopher Reeve Foundation, Lance Armstrong Foundation, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, National Children’s Leukemia Foundation, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, National Prostate Cancer Foundation, Washington University in St. Louis and the Stowers Institute in Kansas City. A complete list, plus more information about our Initiative, can be found at www.MissouriCures.com.
The Missouri Stem Cell Initiative belongs to the patients and families affected by diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, cancer, heart disease and spinal cord injuries -- and frankly, everyone else in Missouri because any one of us could fit that category tomorrow.
I urge you to vote YES on Amendment 2, the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. Together, we will give Missouri doctors and scientists the protections that they need to end many tragic diseases that Missouri families struggle with every day and ensure Missouri patients can benefit as cures are found.
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Donn Rubin Chairman, Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures |
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I Support Embryonic Stem Cell Research |
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